Michelle Sticka

Jewelry Designer. Mom of three. Cancer Survivor. In August of 2002, I was a married mom with two young children, the oldest of which was about to start preschool when I had an unexplained grande mal seizure. The cause of which went undiagnosed. It wasn't until April of 2003 that I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I was told that people with this diagnosis could expect to live an average of three years. By May 2003, I had surgery to remove the tumor and started both radiation and chemotherapy. I had survived. The follow up was to be 12 rounds of chemotherapy but something incredible happened either just before or after the 5th round...... I found out I was pregnant. Not too unusual right? Women get pregnant every day. Even cancer survivors. What was so amazing? I had been cautioned not to get pregnant (of course) and I was taking all precautions seriously (well yeah duh!) but............... the chemotherapy I was taking was the type that stops cell growth. It would be difficult, almost impossible, for a newly developing embryo to survive. That was 2004. Today in 2011, he is a healthy, energetic (to say the least!) 6 year old boy. By 2005 my marriage had run its course. It took me by surprise. I had been sort of distracted. The divorce was final in 2006. The house we owned was sold to pay off the debts. I've read that many would consider a cancer survivor who had made it 5 years out from the last treatment to be cured. Because my diagnosis involved a brain tumor, the doctors I have will never grant me that. I was so grateful to make it to that date, but it was an extraordinary 5 years where each year brought a new challenge. Each challenge almost as stressful as the original cancer diagnosis. First, cancer. Second, pregnancy; unplanned and unexpected. Marriage falters. Divorce occurs. House is sold to pay of debt (a house that I loved). I went back to school for a while. I went back to work. Then I started my own business. Throughout all of these experiences, I've maintained what I've called my 'toolbox'. Where there is a will, there are at least 100 ways to get to your goal. I packed my 'toolbox' with every tool and bit of information that I could manage to find. I figured that if one thing didn't work for me then I would return that tool to my toolbox and get the next one. Something had to work. A lot has gone into my survival. Physical survival. Mental Survival. Emotional Survival. Spiritual Survival.